Carry bag handle construction



May 25, 1954 A, SQFFA 2,679,350

CARRY BAG HANDLE CONSTRUCTION Filed March 7, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENToR. A L BERT 5 OF FA BY E ATTORNEYS.

May 25 1954 A. soFFA CARRY BAG HANDLE CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 7, 1950 l I I l I l.

. INVENTOR. ALBERT SOFFA BYQ F' y ATTORNEYS.

May 25, 1954 A sol-FA 2,679,350

CARRY BAG HANDLE CONSTRUCTION Filed March '7, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. A L BER T 0F FA BY` ,2 s

AT TORNEYS.

Patented May 25, 1954 CARRY BAG HANDLE CONSTRUCTION Albert Soffa, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Wolf Brothers, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 7, 1950, Serial No. 148,051

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in paper bags and more particularly to an improvement in the handle construction of paper bags of the type generally known as a carry bag.

This invention comprises an improvement in the handle structure of the type of bag shown in the Patents No. 2,172,555 and No. 2,364,886 issued to Howard A. Wolf.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a handle structure which will increase the strength of the strip on the bag back between the handle cut-out and the open end of the bag before the carrying handle structure is formed into position for carrying the bag.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an edge adjacent to the top of the handle aperture which has a iiat surface after the handle structure has been formed into position for carrying the bag and is more comfortable to the feel of one carrying the bag.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a reenforcing ap across the top of the handle aperture which is automatically folded into proper position when the handle structure is formed into carrying position.

It is a further object of this invention to provide reenforcing for the strip between the handle aperture and the open end of the bag increasing the strength of the strip before the bag handle structure is formed into carrying position, which will provide reenforcing of the bag handle after the bag handle is formed into carrying position and which will not complicate the mode of forming the handle into carrying position or in any way prevent the operation of forming the handle into carrying position from being completely self-suggestive with no special instructions to the user being necessary.

'I'hese and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a partially cut-away back View of one form of a carry bag constructed in accordance with the present invention showing the bag closing flap in open position;

Figure 2 is a partially cut-away enlarged back view of a bag of the form shown in Figure 1 showing the handle area with the handle structure partially formed into carrying position;

Figure 3 is a partially cut-away enlarged front View of a bag of the form shown in Figure 1 showing the handle area with the handle structure completely formed into carrying position;

Figure 4 is a view showing a section through 2 the handle structure taken on the plane indicated by the trace 4 4 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged back view showing the handle area of a bag embodying an alternate form of the present invention and showing the bag closing ap in an open position;

Figure 6 is a partially cut-away enlarged front View showing the handle area of a bag of the type shown in Figure 5 and showing the handle formed into carrying position;

Figure 7 is an enlarged back view showing the handle area of a bag embodying another alternate form of the present invention and showing the bag closing ap in an open position; and

Figure 8 is a partially cut-away front View showing the form of the invention shown in Figure 7 and showing the handle structure formed into carrying position.

In Figure 1 there is shown a bag comprising a rear wall l, a front Wall 2, side iiaps 3 and a closing ilap 4'. The side aps 3 are extensions of the front wall 2 which are turned inwardly and are secured with adhesive or other suitable means to the inside of the back wall l of the bag.

In this figure the front and back Walls of the bag are shown as one continuous piece of material folded across the bottom of the bag to form the front wall 2 and the back wall l using the side seam construction. It will be obvious, however, that the present invention may be incorporated in bags having a single seam disposed at the rear of the bag, and a transverse seam along the bottom of the bag or other suitable form of construction wherein a suitable closing ilap is provided to be folded down over the open end of the bag as will be hereinafter described.

Attached to the inside of the back wall I of the bag by adhesive or other suitable means is the reenforcing patch 5 and attached to the inside of the closing flap 4 and extending downwardly and attached to the inside of the front wall 2 by adhesive or other suitable means is the reenforcing patch 6 which lies in a position on the front wall 2 superimposed underneath the reenforcing patch 5 on the back wall l. The top of the back wall I adjacent to the bag opening is cut with inclined form providing a peak 9 of maximum height in the center of the back of the bag for cooperation with the handle flap as will be hereinafter described.

The handle structure of the carry bag includes the linger cut-outs l which are cut through the rear and front walls I and 2 of the bag and their reenforcing patches 5 and 6, and a locking tongue 8 which is formed in the closing iiap 4 by the cut lines I and is adapted to be folded downwardly and passed through the cut-outs l, as will be hereinafter described. The cut lines I0 provide at either end of the locking tongue the ears II. The upper edge of the handle cut-out I in the back bag wall I is provided with a flap I2 and the upper edge of the handle cut-out in the front bag Wall is provided with the flap i3. The cut-outs 'i and the naps I2 and I3- lie in superimposed position as viewed in Figure 1.

The bag may be formed of paper or other material suitable for the formation of a carry bag and the reenforcing patches 5 and Smay be made of paper or other suitable reen'forcing-material being somewhat more stiff than the material forming the bag itself.

Heavy score lines I6 and II are provided at the root of the tongue between the` cuts ifi. Heavy score lines I9 and 20 are provided in the area where the flap 4 `ioins the front wall 2 of theibag across the width of the reenforcing patch 6. Heavy score lines 2 I, 22 and 23 are provided along the length ofthe flap I3 andvheavyv score linef`24; is provided along the length of the flap i2. A light score line 2'5'is provided across the width of thev bag between the heavy score lines IS and 20, and a plurality of light score lines 2B are Iprovided between the heavy score line I1 at the root of the'tongue and the heavy score line I9 across the widtlrof the patch E,

In use the bag will generally be opened by the user grasping the central portion of the closing flap 4 in the region of the reenforcing patch G and the strip ofmaterial 28 in the back of the bag lying between the back cut-out 'I' and the upper edge ofthe back of the bag. The user will draw these two portions of the bag apart thereby opening the bag to permit insertion of an article therein. In performing. this operation the user will, in passing his fingers through the cut-out opening 'I,-bend the ap vI2 atan angle to the strip 28 thereby providing a stiiener or reenforcement which serves to strengthen the strip 28 and reduce the possibility of tearing or deforming the strip 28 while the bag is being filled. It has further been found that the yielding action of the strip has the psychological effect of wai-ning. the user of the relative weakness of the strip 28 'when held in this position. Thus, the flap I2V serves in various ways to accomplish what amounts to, in effect, greatly increasing the strength of the strip 28.

After articles have been placed in the bag, the userwill, without any instructions being necessary, immediately determine by viewing the bag that to form the handle of the bag the flap 4 must be folded down over the back I of the bag intopdsition, as shown in Figure 2. The light score'line 25 across theA width of the bag andthe heavy' score` lines`I9 and 2U across the width of the lreenfo'rcing patch E' will facilitate this fold ing. It should be noted that the major amount ofbending will take lplace on the two he'avy'score lines I9 and 2B and a lesser amount of bending will'take place on the light Vscore line 25, and the pealiedcenters of the bag back will'butt against the kbend on the light score line'25l Thusthere is provided a substantially flat top'portion for the bag which willtend to stiifen the handle structre,` as will'be hereinafter described more fully and at the same time sharpk bends which might tend to 'crack' or breakr the bag material are avoided.v

` The next step in forming the handle structure is to"pres`s the tongue-'portion v'throughthe aligned cut-outs 'I and fold the tongue upwardly against the front Wall of the bag providing the completely formed handle, as shown in Figures 3 and When the handle has been formed into this carrying position, the flaps I2 and I3 will be bent over as shown in Figure 4 on their respective heavy score lines 2| and 24. The flap I2 being the inner flap, it is necessary that it be bent about a sharper radius than the' flapy I3. This bending is facilitated by the additional heavy score lines 22 and 23. Score lines 22 and 23 also reduce the sharpness of the bend occurring on the score line 2ii and thus reduce the tendency of cracking therealong. Score lines IB and I'I at the root of the tongue form between them the reenforcing stripv I8 which is arranged to be at least "as wide as the folded naps I2 and I3 which, after the handle is formed, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, are disposed between the tongue which now lies on the front of the bag and the closing ilap which now lies on the back of the bag.

It will be observed from viewing Figures 3 and 4 that the ears Il ofthe tongue 8 spring down-- wardly toward the bottom of the bag after 'the tongue is passed through the cut-outs 'I1 and formed upwardly into carrying position thus serving tc lock the tongue in its folded position. The vflaps I2 and I3 serve as expansible members exerting a force against the tongue 3 and tend'to hold the strip IS in position, andthe tongue 8v is kept from turning downwardly and passing baci: through the 'cut-outs Tasa resultof this force by the locking action of the ears II which bear against the front wall of the bag.

The score lines 2t across the "width ofthe'front reenforcing patch between the tongue and the score line I9 create inthe closing'fiap 4a slightly rounded contourgas shown in Figure 4, when'the bag handle structure is formed into carijyingfpo'sition.

When the bag structure is formed in the manner indicated the resulting Ycarrying, handle structure, as shown in Figure'sB and 4', provides a handle structure havingI the following featuresV of note. At the top of the cut-outs r'l, the portion of the handle engaging the users hand presents to the user a flat surface I8)wh ich has, because of itsflat formation, sufficient resistanceto 'maintain the top of the bag in a fiat position while befing carried. It willbenovted that the surface |8is in.substantiallyL flatengagement with the flap I2, along its entire length and that the flap I2 is engagement with the flap I3 along its. entire length.v This stiffnessis further enhanced bythe substantially flat portion of the front reen'forcing.l flap lying across the top of the bag between the4 score lines IQ and 20. These various substan-v tially flat surfaces lying on planes generally. perpendicular to the bag panelslall impart stiffness to the handle area andA tendto resist transverse bending of the upper part of thebag.

Further contributing to theI users comfort is the fact thatI the handle has a rounded feeling as a result of the effect of thetongue on the front of the bag when it is bent up from the cut-outs and the rounded contour on the back ofthe handle as produced by the score lines 26, as has been hereinbefore described in connection with Figure 4.

' An alternate form of this invention is shown in Figures 5 and 6 wherein a baghas a back wall `40, a front wall 42, a closing Ilap 114, a reenforcing patch 46 attached to the inside ofthe back wall bag is provided with cut-outs 49l and a tongue 50 defined by cut lines 5l.

In this form of the invention there is provided adjacent to the top edge of the cut-outs 49 the iiaps 52 and 53 defined by the score lines 45 and 41 on the front and back bagwalls, respectively. The iiaps 52 and 53 are of substantially diamond or oval shape and there is similarly provided in the bag closing flap 44 in the area between the tongue 50 and the portion adjacent to the top of the bag, the portion 54 defined by the score lines 43 and which is substantially diamond or oval shape and is formed generally identical in shape to the formation of the flaps 52 and 53. The iiap '52 is provided with the additional score line 55. When the bag flap 44, which is in an open position, as shown in Figure 5, is folded down over the back of the bag and the tongue 50 is pressed through the cut-out 49 and bent upwardly on the front of the bag forming the handle structure, as shown in Figure 6, the portion 54 will lie flat against the users hand and the flaps 52 and 53 will lie above and generally in alignment with and at against the portion 54. The portion of the reenforcing patch 48 forming the top of the bag is provided with heavy score lines 56 and 58 and the light score line 6|. The reenforcing patch 4B is also provided with light score lines 62 similar to those provided in the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

When the handle of the form shown in Figures 5 and 6 has been formed in position, a section therethrough will have substantially the same appearance as that shown in Figure 4. The primary advantage of this form of the invention is that a crowned or arched surface as indicated at 64 is presented to the users fingers providing greater comfort and greater stiffness when the bag is held.

-Still another modification of the invention is shown in Figures 7 and 8 wherein the front portion of the bag above the cut-out 'ID is provided with the pair of oval or diamond-shaped aps 'Il and the back portion ofthe bag above the cut-out 'l0 is provided with a pair of similarly formed flaps 12. The bag closing flap area lying between the tongue 14 and the portion of the bag iiap 'I5 between the tongue and the top of the bag is provided with score lines forming the areas T6 and v'l1 Which, when the handle is formed into position, are adapted to fall into alignment with the areas 1U and 1l. It will be noted that the flaps 'd2 being the inside flaps when formed are provided with the additional score lines '13, and the portion of the tongue root between the areas 'I6 and 'i1 is provided with the additional score lines T8 and 79. The score line i3 reduces the sharpness of the bend along the flap 'i2 and the score lines 18 and 19 are desirably included to reduce the sharpness of the bend along the score line 80. These score lines are desirable inasmuch as too sharp a bend along the score lines on the reeinforcing patch create a susceptibility to cracking. Hence, the score lines 18 and 19 accommodate some of the bending and tend to relieve the degree of bending existing along the line 8B when the handle is formed into form for carrying, as shown in Figure 8.

In this form of the invention the flaps 1I and 12 above the cut-outs lie substantially flat against the flat surfaces 'I6 and 11, respectively, at the root of the tongue. This is essentially the same structure as produced by the preceding 6 I forms except that two arches are formed as shown generally at 8| and 82 in Figure 8.

It will be observed that the modification shown in Figures 5 and 6 and the modification shown in Figures 7 and 8 relate essentially to the shaping of the stifening flaps across the top of the handle cut-out, and are illustrative of the fact that a great variety of shapes of stifening flaps may be provided without departing from the invention disclosed herein.

It will be apparent that a variety of modifications may be made in the embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the invention claimed. Either the front or the back bag panel may be extended to form the bag closing flap. While reenforcing pads have been shown in the handle region as providing the most desirable bag structure, it will be apparent that if the entire bag is made from material having sufficient stiffness, these reenforcing pads may be omitted. In the event that the reenforcing pads are omitted the score lines which now extend for the width of the reenforcing pads will preferably be extended across the greater portion of, or the total width of, the bag.

It will be apparent that various modifications may be made in the form and location of the cutouts which provide for the insertion of the users ngers.

Various modications may also be made in the arrangement of the aps employed. There is disclosed herein the arrangement having iiaps extending into the cut-outs from both bag panels, however, a satisfactory structure also results if a ap or aps are extended from one panel only and arranged to bend and engage the cut edge forming the top edge of the cut-out in the other panel. These and other modifications may be made to the structure disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A carry bag comprising front and back panels separated at their upper ends to form an opening for the bag, nger openings in said front and back panels, a closure member extending upwardly from one of said panels and adapted to be folded down over the other of said panels closing said bag opening, a ap member extending downwardly from the other of said panels into the nger opening therein a distance substantially less than half the height of the finger opening and joined to the upper edge of the opening along a weakened bend line, and a tongue member formed integral with said closure member, hinged thereto along a weakened bend line and adapted to be folded through said linger openings after said closure member is folded down, said tongue member having an additional bend line extending parallel to its above mentioned bend line and spaced therefrom a distance approximately equal to the distance between the free edge of said flap member and its bend line, said flap member being adapted to bend on its bend line and lie with a substantial portion of the ap member substantially in surface contact with the portion of the tongue between the two tongue bend lines and in a plane substantially perpendicular to its associated bag panel when said tongue is folded through said iinger openings.

2. A carry bag comprising front and back panels separated at their upper ends to form an opening for the bag, finger openings in said front and back panels, a closure member extending upwardlyffrom one ofzsaid panelsand joined tlfieree,

folded;down along Vsaid bendr line and .over the other. ofg'said panels closing saidbagropening, a fiap'member extending downwardly from the other of said panels into the finger opening thereinta distance substantially less than half the heightof the nger opening'and joined to the upper edge of the opening along a weakened bend line, and a tongue member formed integral with saidl closure member,l hinged thereto along a weakened bend line and adapted to be folded through said finger openings after said closure member is folded down, said tongue member havingqan additional bend lineextending parallel to its-above mentioned bend line vand spaced there` fromza distance approximately equal to the distance between the free edge of said flap member` between the` two tongue bend lines and ina plane substantiallg,1 perpendicular to its associated bag panelv when said tonguer is folded through said nger openings, the top edge of said other of said:

panels.` and: the: bend line joining` said?` closure member to said one of said panels ybeing inicoin`-` ciding relation to eachother, and the'f spacing between thev bend line joining :said 'Lclosure' mem berv to said one of'saidpanels `and .the bendfliney joining saidtongue to said Vclosure memloerfbeing` greater'than `the distance between Vthe top edge:

of the otherof saidpanels and the upper edgeof ltheznger sopeningtherein, to 'provide an outn ward `bend'in said closure member when said elo'- sure member is. folded, dov/nt and said tongue. member is folded through said finger openings;n

Referencesr Cited-inthe'le of this'patent'` UNITED STATES'Y PATENTS Number Name Date 2,132,669V Wolf' Oct. 11, 1938: 2,172,555 Wolf Sept. 121939: 2,192,131 Fishwick Feb. A27, 1940. 2,219,526 McLaren Oct. 291940y 2,234,180 Lackey et a1 Mar. 11, 1941 2,239,856 Poppe Apr. 29, 1941 2,364,886 Wolf Dec. l2, 1944 2,433,867 Ringler Jan. 6,1948` 

